Echinacea plant named ‘BullEchipur 109’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Echinacea  plant having a compact growth habit and numerous, pink colored blooms.

Botanical classification: Echinacea purpurea.

Varietal denomination: ‘BullEchipur 109’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Echinacea plant known by the varietal name ‘BullEchipur 109’. The new variety was discovered in August of 2019 in Gönnebek, Germany as the result of a planned breeding program with the purposes of providing Echinacea plants with unique flower colors, a compact growth habit, increased branching, and more uniformity when compared to prior Echinacea plants. The new variety is the result of a cross between an unpatented Echinacea purpurea variety having an internal breeder's reference of “Bul 2015-11” (female parent) and an unpatented Echinacea purpurea variety having an internal breeder's reference of “Bul Mix 12-2016” (male parent) from the breeder's own collection. The new variety was first asexually reproduced via in-vitro tissue culture cuttings in Gönnebek, Germany in September of 2019. The new variety is similar to its parental varieties in botanical classification, but exhibits a more compact growth habit, different flower color, and smaller leaves than both of its parental varieties. Further, ‘BullEchipur 109’ exhibits better branching than its female parent and more flowers than its male parent.

When ‘BullEchipur 109’ is compared to Echinacea purpurea variety named ‘Amazing Dream’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,019), ‘BullEchipur 109’ is similar to ‘Amazing Dream’ in botanical classification and flower color, but ‘BullEchipur 109’ exhibits a more compact growth habit with increased branching, more flowers, and smaller leaves that distinguish it from ‘Amazing Dream’. Further, the following characteristics distinguish ‘BullEchipur 109’ when generally compared to other Echinacea varieties known to the breeder:

-   -   Pink flower color;     -   High flower number per plant;     -   A very compact and uniform growth habit;     -   High branching;     -   Fast crop time; and     -   Small leaves.         The new variety has been trial and field tested and has been         found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true         to type through successive asexual propagations. The present         invention has not been evaluated under all possible         environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations         in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawing illustrates the new variety at 22 weeks of age, with the color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 shows an entire plant of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of the new variety as the result of asexual reproductions performed via in vitro tissue culture cuttings carried out in Gönnebek, Germany. Plants of the new variety were grown outdoors in 19 cm (3 liter) pots under normal field production conditions, and the color readings and measurements were observed outdoors under natural light on 22 week old plants in Gönnebek, Germany Color references are primarily to The 2015 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, Sixth Edition, except where terms of ordinary significance are used.

PLANT

-   Time to initiate roots: About 7 days at approximately 19-20° C. -   Time to develop roots: About 40-50 days at approximately 18° C. -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant from a rooted cutting:     About 12-14 weeks in a 19 cm container. -   Rooting habit: Exhibits numerous roots that are freely branching and     healthy in appearance. -   Plant height: 45.0-50.0 cm. -   Plant width: 30.0-40.0 cm. -   Habit: Upright, compact, and uniform growth with numerous branches. -   Disease/pest resistance: Nothing unusual noted to date. -   Temperature tolerance: Nothing unusual noted to date. -   Drought tolerance: Average. -   Branches (flowering stems):     -   -   Number per plant.—20-35.         -   Length.—20.0-30.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—3.0-10.0 mm.         -   Internode length.—1.0-5.0 cm.         -   Angle.—Upright and outward.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Pubescence present.         -   Color.—Close to Yellow-Green Group RHS 146A. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Single.         -   Leaf.—Length: 4.0-15.0 cm. Width: 1.0-5.0 cm. Shape:             Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Attenuate to acute.             Margin: Entire. Aspect: Straight to curved. Texture: Upper             surface: Rough. Lower surface: Rough. Color: Young leaves:             Upper surface: Close to Green Group RHS 137A. Lower surface:             Close to Green Group RHS 137C. Mature leaves: Upper surface:             Close to Green Group RHS 137A. Lower surface: Close to Green             Group RHS 137C. Petiole: None present. Veins: Venation type:             Cross-venulate to longitudinal. Color: Upper surface: Close             to Yellow-Green Group RHS 145A. Lower surface: Close to             Yellow-Green Group RHS 145B.

INFLORESCENCE

-   Bud:     -   -   Diameter.—1.0-3.0 cm.         -   Length.—1.3-2.0 cm.         -   Color.—Close to Green Group RHS N137C. -   Appearance: Elliptic-shaped ray florets and tubular-shaped disc     florets. -   Natural flowering season: Flowering occurs from July-September in     Gönnebek, Germany, beginning approximately 12-14 weeks after     planting. -   Average number of inflorescences per plant: 20-35. -   Average number of inflorescences per branch: 1-2. -   Disc and ray floret arrangement: Disc florets are arranged in the     middle of the receptacle of the composite, single, freely flowering     plant, with ray florets extending outwardly therefrom. -   Fragrance: Very light. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Disc type.—Daisy.         -   Diameter.—4.0-8.0 cm.         -   Height (depth).—2.0-3.5 cm.         -   Diameter of disc.—1.5-3.0 cm.         -   Receptacle height.—1.0 cm.         -   Receptacle diameter.—1.5-3.5 cm. -   Ray florets:     -   -   Number per inflorescence.—18-25.         -   Arrangement.—In two or three whorls.         -   Length.—1.6-3.0 cm.         -   Width.—0.9-1.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth and glabrous. Lower surface:             Rough.         -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: Close to Red-Purple             Group RHS 63A. Lower surface: Close to Red-Purple Group RHS             63C. At maturity: Upper surface: Close to Red-Purple Group             RHS 63B. Lower surface: Close to Red-Purple Group RHS 63C.             Ground color description: Close to Red-Purple Group RHS 63A.         -   Venation.—Appearance: Parallel. Color: Upper surface: Same             color as the florets. Lower surface: Same color as the             florets. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Number per inflorescence.—Numerous; too many to quantify.         -   Arrangement.—In the center of receptacle.         -   Length.—8.0-15.0 mm.         -   Width.—1.0-2.0 mm.         -   Shape.—Tubular.         -   Apex.—Pointed.         -   Color.—Immature: Close to Red-Purple Group RHS 61A. At             maturity: Close to Red-Purple Group RHS 61A. -   Phyllaries:     -   -   Number per inflorescence.—40-50.         -   Arrangement.—In three to four whorls.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.0 cm.         -   Width.—2.0-4.0 mm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Elongated oval.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Rough. Lower surface: Rough.         -   Color.—Immature: Upper surface: Close to Green Group RHS             NN137C. Lower surface: Close to Green Group RHS NN137C. At             maturity: Upper surface: Close to Green Group RHS NN137C.             Lower surface: Close to Green Group RHS NN137C. -   Reproductive organs: -   Androecium:     -   -   Presence.—On disc florets.         -   Number (per floret).—One.         -   Filament length.—1.0-2.0 mm.         -   Filament color.—Close to Red-Purple Group RHS 59B.         -   Anther.—Shape: Oval. Length: 1.0 mm. Color: Close to             Red-Purple Group RHS 59B.         -   Pollen.—Color: Close to Yellow-Orange Group RHS 15B. Amount:             Plentiful-too much to quantify. -   Gynoecium:     -   -   Presence.—In disc and ray florets.         -   Pistil length.—1.0-2.0 mm.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Two-parted. Color: Close to Red-Purple Group             RHS 59B.         -   Style.—Length: 1.0-2.0 mm. Color: Close to Red-Purple Group             RHS 59B. -   Seeds:     -   -   Overall size.—2.0-3.0 mm in length and 1.0 mm in width. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Echinacea plant named ‘BullEchipur 109’, as is herein illustrated and described. 